In 2014 the NorcalMLK Foundation was confronted with the lack of availability to, and access for, the celebration and showcasing of the work of underrepresented creatives in popular culture media. Believing that the ability to imagine oneself fully -— in triumph and struggle, as protagonist and disruptor -— is essential to identity and agency. For underrepresented populations this imaginative presence is often absent from the visual narratives shaping our culture. Children’s media, literature, and popular storytelling in particular frequently reduce or erase these populations from vision, reinforcing narrow definitions of worth and potential. This erasure limits more than representation, it limits possibility. Now, as independent creators rise and audiences call for authenticity, a rare and powerful opportunity has emerged to redress these gaps, and the NorcalMLK Foundation's Black & Brown Comix Arts Festival is in the prime position to make space for underrepresented creatives to build these narratives, to depict complexity, and to resist simplification. BCAF represents and creates equitable opportunities for these historically excluded artists and arts and cultural practices through our annual expos and a range of other initiatives, actively working to address the barriers and disparities that these audiences and artists face, providing them with visibility, support, and resources to thrive in this landscape.

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See the BCAF2025 Highlights

• Increase annual BCAF Expo attendance by 25%;
• Establish four (4) pilot virtual community events; and
• Land ten (10) artists to open the BCAF Virtual Marketplace.

Activity 1: Event Planning

• Description: Plan annual BCAF Expo
• Description: Development of event format
• Responsible Team: BCAF Planning Team/Planning Team Coordinator
• Timeline: Month 1 thru 6

Activity 2: Launch pilot of BCAF Virtual Global Community Events

• Description: Design and test the new BCAF Virtual Global Communities
• Responsible Team: BCAF Team/ Team Coordinator
• Timeline: Month 3 thru 12

Activity 3: Upgrade BCAF Website

• Description: Update BCAF website to include art gallery capacity
• Responsible Person(s): IP and CS leads
• Timeline: Ongoing

Activity 4: Establish the BCAF Virtual Gallery & Marketplace Pilot

• Description: Design and operate the BCAF virtual marketplace
• Responsible Person(s): BCAF Team/ IP & CS leads
• Timeline: 3 thru 12

Activity 5: Event Marketing and Outreach

• Description: Presentation of SIDGE Symposium (Jan. 2026)
• Responsible Person(s): SIDGE Planning Team
• Timeline: Jan. 2026